Fire detecting and extinguishing



Aug. 31, 1943. H. a HEIGIS FIRE DETECTING AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed July 1, 1941 INVENTOR 149. 9 [Ewes/fieglfl my ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1943 Henry Ernest Heigis, West Orange, N. 1., as-

signor to Specialties Development Corporation. Bloomfield. N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 1, 1941, Serial No. 400,009

Claims.

The present invention relates to fire detecting and extinguishing systems or the like, and more particularly to such systems wherein means are provided for preventing undesirable fluid from entering the detecting cabinet generally forming a part of such systems.

Fire detecting and extinguishing systems have been utilized for the protection of one or more compartments of tanks or compartments, for example, aboard ships, in warehouses andthe like. Such systems usually comprise an accumulator located in each compartment, which is connected by a pipe or conduit to a central control station where suction means are provided for withdrawing atmospheric samples from each compartment or tank. At the control station the samples are passed through a detecting cabinet where the samples may be observed to determine whether or not they contain smoke. Automatic means may be provided for detecting the smoke and for sounding an alarm. The detecting cabinet used also identifies the compartments from which the samples are withdrawn. Fire extinguishing means may be provided having suitable control devices for directing a fire extinguishing medium to the compartment from which smoke issues. The control devices usuailly are actuated from the control station either manually or in response to the operation of the automatic smoke detecting means.

In systems of the foregoing description, which are utilized in connection with tanks or compartments for storing liquids, a portion of the liquid may get into the detecting cabinet under certain conditions. The presence of liquid in the cabinet interferes with the observation or detection of smoke and necessitates dismantling the cabinet to remove the liquid. While the cabinet is dismantled the detecting system is practically useless in the event a-fire breaks out in any of the compartments. These difliculties have arisen aboard ships, where due to pitching or rolling of the ships, the surges resulting therefrom have caused a portion of the stored liquid to be forced through the pipes or conduits leading to the de-' able fluid or liquid from getting into the detecting cabinet. The invention further aims to "provide a valve of the buoyant or float type which system.

is adapted to shut oil communication between the cabinet and the accumulators in the tanks or compartments in response to an excessive fluid pressure acting in the direction toward the cabinet or when liquid rises in the connecting piping, and which is normally open to establish communication between the cabinet and the 'accumulators to permit atmospheric samples of the tanks or compartments to be conducted to the detecting cabinet.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved fire detecting and extinguishing Another object is to prevent undesirable fluid from getting into and interfering with the detecting cabinet.

A further object is to attain the foregoing ob- Jects and advantages by providing a simple, inexpensive valve which can be readily employed in newly installed or existing systems.

Other and further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent when described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a fire detecting and extinguishing system illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 i an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a valve associated with the system shown inFigurel.

connected to accumulators J2, located adjacent the ceiling of tanks or compartments M, for withdrawing atmospheric samples adapted to be conducted to the cabinet. For purposes of illustration, a single compartment it is shown and this compartment may be of the type employed aboard oil tankers or other vessels for carrying a liquid cargo Ill. The detecting cabinet may be of the usual construction, comprising a suction chamber Ilinto which the ends ll of the pipes or conduits ll extend. A motor driven suction pump I! may be mounted on the suction chamber It for creating a suction to withdraw samples of the air above the liquid in the compartments. Preferably, the-cabinet lil is located at a central control station, which ror example aboard a ship, may be in the wheel house.

In order to prevent liquid in the compartments from reaching the detecting cabinet, a valve is connected in a vertical section of each of the pipes or conduits I I, preferably near to the compartments. The valve is adapted to normally permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and is adapted to permit a fire extinguishing fluid to pass therethrough as will be described hereafter. However, any liquid which may rise in the vertical sectionof the pipe causes the valve to close and thereby prevents the liquid from reaching the detecting cabinet. A preferred valve 20 is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3, and comprises a tubular upper casing member 2| and a tubular lower casing member 22 threaded together .at 24 to provide a unitary valve casing. V

The upper casing member 2| has a threaded opening at its upper end 25, and is provided with an annular valve seat adjacent the opening. The valve seat may be provided with an annular ring of suitable gasket or packing material. The lower portion of the upper casing member preferably has a greater diameter than the upper end thereof to provide a chamber 21 therein for housing a valve member 29 which may be a ball formed of a material adapted to float in water, oil or other liquids. For example, a wooden ball may be utilized. If liquid rises in the pipe i I, the ball 29 will float or will be forced upwardly against the valve seat 26 thereby preventing liquid fromgetting above the valv 20. Preferably the ball has a diameter sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter 0f the chamber 21 to provide clearance for normally permitting samples of the atmosphere in the compartments to pass through the valve 20.

The lower casing member 22 has a threaded opening at its lower end 30 and is provided with an outwardly extending flange or shoulder 3| against which the lower end 32 of the upper casing member may abut. If desired, a ring gasket 34 may be interposed between the shoulder 3| and the end 32 of the upper casing member 2| to provide a secure seal between the upper and lower casing members. Instead of a gasket red lead or other sealing compositions may be employed.

In order to maintain the ball 29 in a position to permit atmospheric samples to pass through the valve, the lower casing member 22 is provided with a seating arrangement which may comprise a pair of pins 35 extending horizontally across the inner bore of the member 22. Normally, the ball is seated on the pins 35 and sufllcient clearance is [:provided to permit passage of the atmospheric samples through the valve as indicated by the arrows. To insure proper seating of the ball 29 onthe pins 35, a weighted member such as a pin 36 is secured to the ball. The pin 36 depends downwardly and extends between the pins 35 which serve to guide the pin 36. The weight of the pin 36 is such that it will not interfere with the floating of the ball but yet will serve to guide the ball towards the seating pins 35 and will prevent the buoyant ball from sticking to the upper valve seat 26. The upper interior portion of the lower casing member is tapered downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 31, to increase the clearance between the ball member 29, when seated, and the inner walls of the chamber 21.

In systems of the type illustrated and described herein, the pipes Ii extending into the compartment are also utilized for conducting a fire exaaaaore tinguishing medium, and the accumulators l2 are designed to distribute the medium in the compartments. To accomplish this, a valve 49 is connected in each or the pipes II for admitting the fire extinguishing medium from a supply line II. The valve 60, for purposes of illustration, is shown connected above the valve 20.

signed for local or remote manual or automatic operation, or both. If the valve is of the remote control automatic type, it is operatively connected to an actuating mechanism located at the central control station.

In operation of the system described herein, the valve 40 normally is positioned to establish communication between the compartments l4 and the cabinet l0, and to shut oil. the supply line 4|. The ball member 29 in the valve 20 normally is seated on the pins 35, a shown in Figure 2, and samples of the atmosphere in the compartments l4 may be withdrawn periodically or continuously and conducted through the pipes H and the valves 20 and 40 therein to the cabinet Hi.

In the event that liquid from the compartments I4 is forced upwardly into the pipes II, th ball member 29 of the valve 20 will float and move upwardly to engage the valve seat 29, thereby preventing any of the liquid from getting into the cabinet Ill. The ball member 29 is shown engaging the seat 26, in broken lines in Figure 2.

If smoke is detected in any of the compartments the valve 40 in the pipe I l leading-to that compartment is operated to shut off the end of the pipe leading to the cabinet and the supply line 4| is operatively connected to the pipe I I. A fire extinguishing medium, such as water, carbon dioxide or the like, is then released from a suitable source and is conducted by the supply line 4| and pipe ii to the respective compartment. When the fire extinguishing medium is conducted through the valve 20, the ball member is resting on the seating pins 35 and ample clearance is provided between the side walls of the chamber 21 and the outer surface of the ball 29 to permit the passage of the medium.

Should a flre break out with a violent flash and create a substantial pressure in the compartment, the buoyant ball 29 will be forced against the seat 26 to prevent a fluid under pressure, such as liquid, flame or smoke, from rising in the pipe H. However, before the ball seats, sufiicient smoke will pass through the valve 20 to the cabinet ill to indicate that a fire has broken out. The valve '40, upon being operated, releases the fire extinguishing medium, the pressure of which the valve seat 26, whereby the ball will prevent excessive amounts of smoke or combustion gases from being conducted to the cabinet. The compartment may then be vented to clear out the smoke and relieve any pressure. The ball will then return to its seat provided by the pins II and again'will permit samples of the atmosphere of the compartment to be conducted to the cabinet ID. The samples now withdrawn will indicate when the smoke has been cleared out of the compartment.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved fire detecting and indicating system. The detecting means are effective to indicate the atmospheric conditions in the tanks or compartments, and at all times are prevented from being damaged by liquid, smoke or name. This is very advantageous because the detecting means do not have tobe dismantled for repair and \therefore are always in operation. The valve 20 is simple in design and economical to manufacture. It is readily assembled in the pipe lines II new or already installed systems. The valve is rugged in construction and can readily withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

While the present invention has been described,

more or less, with reference to a system for pro tecting the tanks or compartments on a ship, it will be understood that the valve 20 and the system in accordance with the invention can be utilized for protecting tanks or the like where similar problems may arise.

While my invention resides in certain principles 01' construction and operation which have been illustrated and described in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms of construction without departing in any manner from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I therefore do not wish to be strictly limited to the disclosure, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a system 01' the class described, the combinatlon of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a storage compartment to said means; a valve in saidconduit having valve means constructed to normally permit atmospheric samplesto be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to shut ofi communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to fiuid pressure flowing from the compartment to said valve; and a structed to shut or: communication between said detecting means and the compartment and at the same time establish communication between said source or medium and the compartment.

3. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a storage compartment to said means; a valve in said conduit having valve means constructed to normally permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to shut on communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to fluid pressure flowing from the compartment to said valve; a source of fire extinguishing medium; and a second valve intermediate said first valve and said detecting means for connecting said source or medium to said conduit, said second valve having valve means constructed to permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means and being constructed to shut of! communication between said detecting means and the compartment and at the same time establish communication between said source of medium and the compartment; said first valve means being constructed to permit the passage of the medium from said source to the compartment.

4. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said means; a valve in said conduit having valve source of fire extinguishing medium connected to said conduit intermediate said valve and said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to permit the passage of the medium from said source to the compartment.

2. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a storage compartment to said means; a valve in said conduit having valve means constructed to normally permit atmospheric'samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to shut off communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to fluid pressure flowing from the compartment to said valve; a source of fire extinguishing medium; and a second valve intermediate said first valve and said detecting means for connecting said source of medium to said conduit, said second valve having valve means constructed to permit atmospheric samconducted to said detecting means and being conmeansconstructed to normally permit atmospheric-samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means,

said valve means being constructed to shut on communication between the compartment and said detectin means in response to liquid flowing from the compartment to said valve to prevent liquid from entering said detecting means; and a source of fire. extinguishing medium connected to said conduit intermediate said valve and said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to permit the passage of the medium from said source to the compartment.

5. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a. liquid storage compartment to said means; a valve in said conduit having valve means constructed to normally permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to shut off communication between the compartment and said detecting mean in response to liquid flowing from the compartment to said valve to prevent liquid from entering said detecting means; a source of fire extinguishing medium; and a second valve intermediate said first valve and said detecting means for connecting said source of medium to said conduit, said second valve having valve means constructed to permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means and being constructed to shut oil communication between said detecting means and the compartment and at the same time establish communication between said source of medium and the compartment.

6. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said means; a valve in said conduit having valve means constructed to normally permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means, said valve means being constructed to shut on communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to liquid flowing from the compartment to said valve to prevent liquid from entering said detecting means; a source of fire extinguishing medium; and a second valve intermediate said first valve and said detecting means for connecting said source of medium to said conduit, said second valve having valve means constructed to permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means and being constructed to shut off communication between said detecting means and the compartment and at the same time establish communication between said source of medium and the compartment; said first valve means being constructed to permit the passage of the medium from said source to the compartment.

'7. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said detecting means; a valve casing connected in said conduit having a downwardly facing valve seat adjacent the upper interior end thereof; and a flotatable valve member in said casing constructed to engage said valve seat to shut off communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to liquid flowing from. the compartment to said casing, whereby liquid is prevented from entering said detecting means, said valve casing and said valve member being constructed to normally permit said valve member to move out of engagement with said valve seat.

8. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said detecting means; a valve casing connected in said conduit having a downwardly facing valve seat adjacent the upper interior end thereof; a flotatable valve member in said casing constructed to engage said valve seat to shut off communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to liquid flowing from the compartment to said casing, whereby liquid is prevented from entering said detecting means; said valve casin and said valve member being constructed to normally permit said valve member to move out of engagement with said valve seat by gravity; and means in said valve casing for normally maintaining said fiotatable valve member in a position to establish communication between said detecting means and the compartment.

9. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said detecting means; a valve casing connected in said conduit having a downwardly facing valve seat adjacent the upper interior end thereof; a flotatable valve member in said casing constructed to engage said valve seat to shut off communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to liquid flowing from the compartment to said casing, whereby liquid is prevented from entering said detecting means, said valve casing and said valve member being constructed to normally permit said valve member to move out of engagement with said valve seat by gravity; means in said valve casing for normally maintaining said fiotatable valve member in a position to establish communication between said detecting means and the compartment; and a source of fire extinguishing medium connected to said conduit intermediate said valve casin and said detecting means.

10. In a system of the class described, the com bination of fire detecting means; a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said detecting means; a valve casing connected in said conduit having a downwardly facing valve seat adjacent the upper interior end thereof; a. fiotatable valve member in said casing constructed to engage said valve seat to shut off communication between the compartment and said detecting means in response to liquid flowing from the compartment to said casing, whereby liquid is prevented from entering said detecting means; said valve casing and said valve member being constructed to normally permit said valve member to move out of engagement with said valve seat by gravity; means in said valve casing for normally maintaining said flotatable valve member in a position to establish communication between said detecting means and the compartment; a source of fire extinguishing medium; and a valve intermediate said valve casing and said detecting means for connecting said source of medium to said conduit, said valve having valve means constructed to permit atmospheric samples to be withdrawn from the compartment and conducted to said detecting means and being constructed to shut off communication between said detecting means and the compartment and at the same time establish communication between said source of medium and the compartment; said valve casing and said flotatable valve member being constructed to permit the passage of the medium from said source to the compartment.

11. In a system of the class described, the combination of fire detecting means, a conduit leading from a liquid storage compartment to said means; a check valve in said conduit responsive to the flow of fiuid pressure from the compartment to prevent the flow thereof to said detecting means and normally open to permit the flow of a pressure medium therethrough to the compartment; a three-way valve in said conduit intermediate said check valve and said detecting means; and a source of fire extinguishing medium connected to said three-way valve, said threeway valve being constructed to place the compartment in communicationwith said detecting means while shutting off the source of fire extinguishing medium from said conduit and to permit the introduction of the fire extinguishing medium into said conduit while shutting off said fire detecting means from the portion of said conduit between said three-way valve and the compartment.

HENRY ERNEST HEIGIS. 

